I breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay.”
“But one of these days, I’m going topersuadeyou to come out of this room,” Hugh added in a playful tone, as he closed the space between us. “We’ll start with going downstairs.” Climbing onto my bed, he waggled his brows and reached for my hand. “And then we’ll shoot for the garden.” Pulling me onto his lap with minimal effort, he draped an arm around my back and nuzzled his cheek against mine. “Maybe then, we’ll aim for my house.”
“No.” My body turned to stone in his arms. “I can’t.”
“Don’t be so hasty,” he continued to tease, lips brushing against my bare shoulder. “This skin needs sunshine.” He pressed an affectionate kiss to the curve of my neck. “Think of the vitamin D.”
“No, I mean I can’t go there,” I squeezed out, shivering when his lips touched me. Oh yeah, I could definitelyfeelhis lips. His kiss was innocent but it made my body respond in a not-so-innocent way.
Bad girl.
Evil girl.
Filthy whore.
“I can’t go anywhere near that street,” I blurted out, desperately trying to focus on the present and blockhimout. “Ican’t go to your house, Hugh. Not when he’s there.”And he’s always there. “I’m sorry.”
Hugh was quiet for a long moment before releasing a heavy sigh. Instead of arguing with me, like I half expected him to, he turned me on his lap to face him. “I love you,” he said, whiskey-brown eyes searing mine. “I love you so much.” Reaching up, he cupped my face between his hands and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Tell me you know that, Liz.”
“I know you love me, Hugh,” I whispered brokenly, as I straddled his lap. “But you love him more.”
“No. I don’t.” Looking sad, Hugh slowly shook his head. “Not even close.”
Yeah, he did.
Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Hugh loved Gerard Gibson like a brother. They had a bond that ran far deeper than friendship. Their lives were entangled in a way that was deeper than anything I’d ever known. There had been many occasions throughout the years when I had wished my own sister had loved me like Hugh lovedhim.
I understood why, of course. I once loved him like a brother, too.
Until he protected the monster responsible for my sister’s death.
Until he betrayed me.
Until he broke my heart.
He did this to her.
He killed your sister.
Don’t ever forget that, munchkin.
He’s responsible for all of this.
You’ll never see your sister again and it’s all his fault.
“Then don’t be his friend anymore, Hugh,” I begged, already knowing what his answer would be. No. Just like the last time Iasked him and the time before that. “Please.”It hurts too much. “Just…”Just pick me.
“Liz, please.” Hugh pinched the bridge of his nose and released a pained groan. “I can’t just abandon him. He didn’t do anything wrong. Gibsie is as innocent in all of this as you are.”
I wasn’t surprised by his response.
Just deflated.
And a little more dead inside.
Because Hugh would never choose between us, which meant that he chosehim. Just like Claire and Patrick had chosen him, too. I was the disposable person in our friendship group. They would never leave him behind because to the Biggs family, Gerard Gibson was indispensable. He was more their family than I ever would be, and it hurt.
“He’s his brother,” I whispered, even though I knew there was no point. I could never make my boyfriend understand something I didn’t understand myself. I couldn’t explain why I wanted to peel the skin from my bones when I heard Gibsie’s name, but it was a very real, very physical reaction for me. One my mind assured me that I was right to feel.
